Virtual Brain Twin (VBT)
Overview
The Virtual Brain Twin (VBT) project is the direct scientific successor to EPINOV, expanding the personalised whole-brain simulation approach from epilepsy surgery planning to a broader clinical and psychiatric programme operating through EBRAINS. Where EPINOV was a closed, ANR-funded randomised trial (2018–2023) that validated the Virtual Epileptic Patient (VEP) methodology in 356 epilepsy patients, the Virtual Brain Twin project translates the demonstrated proof of concept into an ongoing Horizon Europe-supported research and clinical infrastructure effort. The project is currently active and was featured at the EBRAINS Summit 2025.
Scientific Scope
The core concept of a Virtual Brain Twin is a patient-specific, data-driven computational model of an individual’s brain, a “digital twin” that can be interrogated to predict clinical outcomes, simulate interventions, and personalise treatment planning. The methodology originated in the TVB (The Virtual Brain) simulation platform developed during the Human Brain Project.
Epilepsy (from EPINOV)
The VEP (Virtual Epileptic Patient) methodology, which generates personalised SEEG-driven whole-brain network models to predict optimal resection zones, is the foundational clinical application, proven at RCT level by EPINOV. VBT continues to develop and operationalise this pipeline, expanding access via EBRAINS infrastructure.
Psychiatric Conditions (new scope)
VBT extends personalised brain modelling beyond epilepsy into psychiatric conditions, with schizophrenia as the leading target. This involves adapting the whole-brain network modelling pipeline (originally validated on SEEG ictal data) to resting-state fMRI and EEG phenotypes relevant to psychosis research, aiming to identify candidate biomarkers and treatment response predictors.
EBRAINS Integration
VBT is operationally embedded in EBRAINS as the live home of both the modelling tools and the open clinical datasets derived from EPINOV. The TVB simulation engine, VEP datasets, and the broader Virtual Brain Twin computational environment are all available via EBRAINS services, including access to HPC infrastructure for large-scale personalised model fitting.
Connections
- isPartOf: EBRAINS
- relatedTo: EPINOV (proof-of-concept RCT validating the VEP methodology)
- relatedTo: Human Brain Project (TVB simulation framework)
Resources
- https://ebrains.eu/virtual-brain-twin
- https://ins-amu.fr (INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes)
- https://thevirtualbrain.org (The Virtual Brain simulation platform)